The final PS-AHAB stakeholder meeting took place on June 26, 2014. PS-AHAB investigators presented stakeholders with conclusions about the likely impact of climate change on blooms of Alexandrium catenella in Puget Sound. Although many environmental variables, such as runoff and coastal upwelling, will be affected by future warming, the increase in water temperature is the major factor that may lead to a longer window of opportunity for blooms to occur. Stakeholders, including state, county, and tribal representatives, shellfish growers and harvesters, and volunteer HAB monitors, expressed satisfaction with information provided by four annual cyst maps (three from this project) showing local HAB hot spots and overall declining cyst abundances since 2005. When asked about future needs, state officials expressed strong interest in seasonal forecasts, but industry and local managers want daily to weekly forecasts. The PS-AHAB team will pursue new funding opportunities to further the development of forecasting tools on these timescales.

Download the 2014 Stakeholder Workshop agenda

Published proceedings from the 15th International Conference on Harmful Algae

PS-AHAB researchers published a paper in the proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Harmful Algae, held in Changwon, Korea. The paper described interannual variations in cyst abundances and results from assessments of cyst viability and can be downloaded below.

PS-AHAB investigators and students presented results of the project thus far at a number of scientific conferences in 2011, including the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, 21st Biennial Meeting of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, and the 6th Symposium on Harmful Algae in the United States. These venues provide an excellent opportunity to disseminate the results to managers, policy-makers, and fellow scientists. A poster presentation is available to download below. Please check back regularly for new publications and outreach material.

Download full-size poster

End-Users Guide New Research in Puget Sound to Provide Early Warning of Harmful Algal Blooms

Stakeholder Workshop

On August 18, 2010, investigators held a day-long workshop to introduce the PS-AHAB project to stake holders and seek their input. The 3-year project is formally entitiled “Modeling favorable habitat areas for “Alexandrium catenella in Puget Sound and evaluating the effect of climate change” and is funded by NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. A. catenella produces potent neurotoxins which accumulate in shellfish. During blooms, which occur in Puget Sound in the summer, harvesting wild and cultured shellfish is banned to protect human health from serious illness and death. The 43 attendees included Washington State, county, and tribal natural resource, water quality, and public health managers, educators, student, researchers, and shellfish growers. Particularly valuable was advice about sampling site selection to meet the long term goal of providing advance warning of blooms so public health and fisheries managers can plan and implement mitigation measures.

Download the 2010 Stakeholder Workshop agenda

Announcements

In January 2016, Hood Canal was surveyed again to determine whether the widespread bloom of Alexandrium in 2015 had “seeded” more of the area with resting cysts that could increase bloom risk this summer. Check out the results by clicking on the "Cyst Maps" tab to the left of your screen.

An unprecedented bloom of Alexandrium in Quilcene and Dabob Bay, Hood Canal, prompted an emergency cyst mapping effort on board the R/V Barnes from Jan 17-20. Check out the results by clicking on the "Cyst Maps" tab to the left of your screen.

At the final PS-AHAB stakeholder workshop, participants expressed satisfaction with information provided by the project and interest in the development of HAB predictions on multiple timescales. See more by clicking on the "Publications and outreach" tab to the left of your screen.

Glenn Farley from King 5 and Ashley Ahearn from KUOW joined the crew aboard the R/V Clifford A. Barnes for day to report on our hunt for Alexandrium cysts! The link to the stories can be accessed by clicking on the "Publications and outreach" tab to the left of your screen. Photos from the cruise can be accessed by clicking on the "Field and lab" tab.